Accordion



Oct. 29, 1940- N. MARUSHKO 2,219,598

ACCORDION Filed March 9, 1940 Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCORDION Alfredo Morbidoni,

Nuzzarello, and Char] 111., assignor to F. 00., Chicago, 111., a Alex Capua, Finau Nicholai Marushko,

Joseph Luciani, Joseph es Rufo Application March 9, 1940, Serial No. 323,099

12 Claims.

This invention relates to piano accordions, and one object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of reed blocks and valveactuating mechanism for the treble range of the instrument, adapted to produce a more mellow and pleasing quality of tone than is possible with the standard arrangement of these parts. Another object is to provide a mechanism for connecting the manual keys of the keyboard to the several valves in a manner which shall afiord uniformity of touch throughout the range of the keyboard. A further object is to provide a relatively compact arrangement for the reed blocks and valve mechanism which shall permit of housing these parts in a chamber of minimum dimensions, somewhat less than that of the present standard structure, and lighter in weight. And is also an object of the invention to provide a piano accordion with a wind-chest having a wall formed with an inwardly extending channel, open outwardly, with reed blocks secured to its side walls within the wind-chest, and with. ports through such side walls controlled by valves and valve mechanism accommodated in the channel and immediately adjacent thereto, with connections to such mechanism extending from the manual keys of the piano-type keyboard extending adjacent the end wall of the wind-chest. The invention thus consists of certain features and elements in combination, as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse section taken through the treble wind-chest and through the keyboard of a piano accordion, but with the reed blocks shown in end elevation.

Figure 2 is a detail plan View taken on a larger scale, as indicated at line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse detail section taken as indicated at line 33 on Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail section similar to Figure 3 but showing a modified construction.

Figure 5 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 55 on Figure 4.

As illustrated in the drawing, the accordion embodying this invention includes the usual bellows l with the treble wind-chest 2 communicating therewith at One end, and with a manual keyboard having keys 3 arranged to simulate the keys of a piano, in the usual manner. The windchest 2 is provided with an end wall 4, and the manual keys 3 are supported on the key-bed 5 which extends adjacent the end wall 4 but obliquely thereto at a convenient angle for operation of the keys. The end wall 4 includes a channel portion 4 which may be understood as extending throughout the length of the wind-chest 2, and which, as seen in Figure 1, includes ports 6 in its side walls 1 for communication with the reed blocks 8 which are secured to the side walls within the wind-chest 2. The ports 6 are controlled in groups by valves 9 which seat against the surfaces of the side walls 1, and are accommodated within the channel 4.

The channel opens outwardly, and adjacent the outer edges of the channel the end wall 4 supports pivot rods I I) by means of suitable brackets ll disposed at intervals in the length of the wall 4. Each of the valves 9 is carried by the stem portion 12 of a T-shaped lever I 2, and is preferably attached thereto by a pivot l3 to permit the valve to seat flatly against the side wall 1 of the channel. One arm l2 of the T-shaped lever 12 is fulcrumed on the pivot rod l0, preferably by means of a bearing tube I 4 to which the arm I2 is rigidly secured. The oppositely extending arm l2 engages the crank portion l5 of an arm I5 which extends rigidly from one of the keys 3, being rooted in the inner end of the key in the usual fashion, so that it swings about the pivot axis 16 on which the key is fulcrumed whenever the key is depressed in playing the instrument. Each key is provided with the usual return spring l1, tending to uphold it in normal position at which the connecting linkage, consisting of the arm l5 and the lever l2, serves to maintain the corresponding valve 9 in closed position.

Each of the levers I2 carries a wire spring member l8 having a portion coiled about a stud or pin [9 fixed in the side of the lever arm I 2*. The spring has a tail portion I8 pressed against the bearing tube l4 of the lever I2, and an arm l8", extending substantially parallel to the edge of the lever arm l2 so that the edge of this arm and the portion l8 of the spring cooperate to form a slot in which the crank portion l'5 of the arm I5 is snugly fitted at all times, but with capacity for sliding movement along the arm I2. This slotted formation compensates for movement of the crank l5 about the fulcrum l6, while the lever l2 swings about its fulcrum pin Ill, and the spring I8 is stiff enough so that when the key 3 is depressed the corresponding movement of the arm I5 is transmitted through the spring arm l8 to rock the lever l2 and open the valve 9. In the arrangement shown, the crank portions l5 of the arms l5, corresponding to all keys 3 of the treble key manual, are arranged in alignment along a common axis which lies in the mid-plane of the channel 4*. Thus it is possible to make the levers l2 all alike, and to arrange the valves 9 at opposite sides of the channel in staggered relation to each other so that the corresponding lever arms l2 extend alternately from opposite pivot rods Hi instaggered relation, providing a relatively compact arrangement for the mechanism. In other words, the same type of valve 9,

the same type of lever [2, the same type of spring 1 l3, and the same form of arm [5 will serve for each of the keys 3, and these parts can be made substantially interchangeable so as to greatly simplify the problem of replacement or repair, as

well as affording considerable economy in original production.

The arrangement of the spring l8 for providing a slotted connection between the lever I2 and arm likely to insure quiet and smooth operation, but an alternative construction is shown'in Figures 4 and 5, in which the crank portion ll: of the arm i5 is-connected with the-lever arm l2 by means of a pair of links 20 which serve to transmit mot-ion between the parts in either direction. In other respects the mechanism will be the same as that already described. 1

With the arrangement of reed blocksv permitted by this construction the depth of the side walls 2! of the windechest 2 may be reduced to a minimum, and the space required between the end wall 4 and the gallery 22 for accommothe lever mechanism can lee-somewhat less than that usually provided when the valves themselves are mounted in this space; hence, the instrument can be somewhat more compact than that of standard design. But the most noticeable benefit of this arrangement is the improvement tone quality, which becomes definitely softer and more mellow than when the reed blocks are mounted with their ports in the end wall 4, directly under the gallery. Probably this effect is due to the fact that the sound waves from the reeds must travel a less direct path before escapthrough the gallery, with the result that some of the more or less strident overtones are mufiied out, while the clearer fundamental virations are retained; in any event, actualexpe-rience has demonstrated that a more pleasing tone is secured from an accordion of this type.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and i e-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the same is not limited to the particular form herein shown and described, except in so far as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

I. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls ofsaid channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a keyboard extending adjacent the end wall and operating connections from said valves to the keys of the keyboard.

2. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, each key having'a rigid arm extending over the channel, and

is considered preferable as being most means operatively connecting each of said arms with one of the valves for actuation thereof by the respective keys.

3. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wail, each key having a rigid arm extending over the channel, a lever for each valve fulcrumed on the end wall, each of said levers being operatively connected to the arm of one of said keys.

4. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys tulcrumed adjacent said end wall, each key having a rigid arm extending over the channel, a lever for each valve attached thereto and extend ing out of the channel, a pivotal bearing for the lever on the end wall and means operatively connecting each of said levers to the arm of one of the keys.

5. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, each keyhaving a rigid arm extending over the channel, a T-shaped lever for each valve with its stem portion attached to the valve, one arm of the lever being fulcrumed on the end wall and the other arm operatively connected to said rigid arm of a key.

-6. 'In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, a T-shaped lever for each valve having its stem portion attached to the valve and having one arm fulcrumed on the end wall, the other arm including a slot and each key having a rigid arm with a crank portion engaged in such slot of one of the valve levers.

'7. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channels, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channels, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrummed adjacent said end wall, each key having a rigid arm extending over the channel, a lever for each valve attached thereto and extending out of the channel, a spring member attached to the lever extending adjacent thereto and forming a slot, the rigid arm of each key having a crank portion engaged in said slot of one of the levers, said spring bearing against the crank and holding ing it constantly in contact with the lever to form an operative connection for transmitting movement from 'a key to a valve through its lever.

8. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, each key having a rigid arm extending over the channel, a T-shaped lever for each valve with its stem portion attached to the valve, one arm of the lever being fulcrumed on the end wall, and a spring member attached to said lever extending adjacent the other arm thereof to form a slot, the rigid arm of the key having a crank portion engaged in such slot and the spring bearing against the crank and holding it constantly in contact with the lever to form an operative connection between the corresponding key and valve.

9. In an accordion, a Wind-chest having an end Wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, each key having a rigid arm extending over the channel, and a lever for each valve fulcrumed on the end wall and pivotally attached to the valve to permit the latter to seat itself on the wall of the channel, each of said levers being operatively connected to the arm of one of said keys.

10. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side Walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, the valves at one side of the channel being arranged in staggered relation to those at the opposite side, a lever for each valve fulcrumed on the end Wall adjacent the channel, said levers having arms extending from both sides of the channel in staggered relation to each other, each arm being operatively connected to one of the keys.

11. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an ment, the valves at one side of the channel being H arranged in staggered relation to those at the opposite side, a lever for each valve fulcrumed on the end wall adjacent the channel, said levers having arms extending from both sides of the channel in staggered relation to each other, each lever arm being operatively connected to the crank portion of one of the lever arms for actuation by the corresponding key of the manual.

12. In an accordion, a wind-chest having an end wall which includes an inwardly extending channel with ports in both sides of said channel, reed blocks in the wind-chest mounted on the ported side walls of said channel, valves for said ports disposed in the channel, a set of manual keys fulcrumed adjacent said end wall, each key 1 having a rigid arm extending over the channel and terminating in a crank portion,said crank portions being disposed substantially in alignment, the valves at one side of the channel being arranged in staggered relation to those at the opposite side, a lever for each valve fulcrumed on the end wall adjacent the channel, said levers having arms extending from both sides of the channel in staggered relation to each other, and a link operatively connecting an with the crank portion of the arm of a key whereby each of the valves is operable by a key of the manual.

NICHOLAI MARUSHKO.

arm of each lever 

